Portable vaporizer

ABSTRACT

A vaporizer and method of vaporizing a botanical material is described. Embodiments of the apparatus include a self-contained, fully enclosed, battery operated vaporizer having an air inlet and a mouthpiece. The vaporizer includes a window for viewing a botanical material contained therein and a heating element that is also visible through the window and through an air inlet. The vaporizer also includes a push-button switch that rapidly provides power to heat air, which is then drawn through the botanical material by inhaling. Embodiments of the method include utilizing a push-button switch for heating vaporizer air and viewing the glow of the heating element as a signal that the vaporizer is ready for use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of vaporizers forconsuming botanical materials, and more particularly to an apparatus andmethod for using a portable, self-contained vaporizer for heating thematerials to a temperature sufficient to release the volatile componentswithout combustion.

2. Discussion of the Background

Devices for consuming botanical materials, including but not limited totobacco, flowers, botanical blend, or aromatic herbs, commonly ignitethe botanical materials, requiring that the consumer inhale products ofcombustion along with any volatile compounds that are present. For manybotanical materials it is the volatiles, such as the nicotine present intobacco, that provide a physiological response in the consumer, whilethe combustion products may actually be harmful.

Prior art vaporizers commonly employ a continuous heating source such asa butane-powered flame, a butane powered catalytic burner, or anelectrical resistive heater. The heat source in many such devices isconductive as it is in direct contact with the material or thereceptacle containing the material. This may result in hightemperatures, leading to singing and charring of the botanical materialnear the heat source.

Further, many prior art vaporizers require several minutes of heat-uptime as they need to heat both the mass of the botanical material and aholder of the material to a desired temperature before they can extractvolatile vapors.

Further, since the heating is typically continuous, rather thanon-demand, many existing vaporizers use their power inefficiently asthey are often providing heat to maintain a steady state of elevatedtemperature that does not correspond to the user's intended duty-cycleof intermittent inhalation of the vapors produced.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages ofprior art by providing a vaporizer that entirely contains a botanicalmaterial to be consumed.

Another embodiment of the present invention overcomes the disadvantagesof prior art by providing a vaporizer having an upper portion that maybe removably placed on a lower portion to contain a botanical materialto be consumed. In one embodiment, the upper and lower portions are heldin place with magnets.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention overcomes thedisadvantages of prior art by providing an enclosed vaporizer having awindow for viewing a botanical material contained therein. In oneembodiment, the window also allows the extracted vapor and glow from aheating element to be viewed.

One embodiment of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages ofprior art by providing an enclosed vaporizer that allows the glow from aheating element to also be viewed through an air inlet.

Another embodiment of the present invention overcomes the disadvantagesof prior art by providing a vaporizer having a heating element suspendedin a transparent heating chamber that allows for the transmission oflight generated by the heating element of the device.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention overcomes thedisadvantages of prior art by providing an enclosed vaporizer having aheating element suspended in a transparent heating chamber that isintegrated with and concentric to the material chamber.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a computer controlledtemperature regulation system that allows for the proper vaporizationtemperatures for aromatic herbs, flowers, and tobacco.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a vaporizer havingrechargeable battery that is removable by the user.

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide vaporizer toprovide a user with a vapor from a botanical material. The vaporizerincludes a housing; a heater substantially within the housing includingan electrical energy storage device, a user-operable switch, a heatingelement, and an electrical circuit including the electrical energystorage device, the user-operable switch, and the heating element, wherethe electrical circuit is adapted to provide energy from the electricalenergy storage device to the heating element when the user-operableswitch is actuated. The vaporizer further includes a passageway with thehousing, the passageway including an air inlet, a heater section toprovide thermal contact with air within the heater and the heatingelement, a receptacle for containing a botanical material, and an airoutlet. The user may thus actuate the user-operable switch and inhalethrough the outlet to draw air external to the vaporizer tosequentially, heat air in contact with the heating element to a heatedair temperature, at least partially vaporize the botanical material withthe heated air, then provide at least a portion of the vaporizedbotanical material through the outlet to the user.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method ofproviding a vapor of a botanical material using a vaporizer. The methodincludes manually actuating the vaporizer, where the vaporizer includesstored electric energy, a receptacle for containing the botanicalmaterial, and a flow passageway extending from an inlet, through amanually actuatible heater to accept the stored electric energy and heatair, through the receptacle, to an outlet; and inhaling through theoutlet. Air is thus drawn external to the vaporizer into the passagewayand sequentially, has the air temperature increased in the heater, heatsand extracts a vapor from the botanical material, and provides the vaporto the user.

It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a vaporizerto provide a user with a vapor from a botanical material. The vaporizerincludes a heating element, and a passageway including an air inlet; aheater section to provide thermal contact with air within the heater andthe heating element; a receptacle for containing a botanical material; awindow to transmit thermal radiation from the heater section to theuser, and an air outlet. The user has a visual cue that inhaled air maybe heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the botanicalmaterial.

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a method ofproviding a vapor of a botanical material using a vaporizer, where themethod includes manually actuating the vaporizer, where the vaporizerincludes a receptacle for containing the botanical material, and a flowpassageway extending from an inlet, through a heater to heat air,through the receptacle, to an outlet, and a window to allow a user toview thermal radiation from the heater; and when a user perceives a glowfrom the heater through the window, inhaling through the outlet. Theuser thus has a visual cue that inhaled air may be heated to atemperature sufficient to vaporize the botanical material.

a receptacle for containing the botanical material, and a flowpassageway extending from an inlet, through a heater to heat air,through the receptacle, to an outlet, and a window to allow a user toview thermal radiation from the heater, the method comprising: manuallyactuating the heater; and when a user perceives a glow from the heaterthrough the window, inhaling through the outlet. The user thus has avisual cue that inhaled air may be heated to a temperature sufficient tovaporize the botanical material.

These features together with the various ancillary provisions andfeatures which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, are attained by the vaporizer of thepresent invention, preferred embodiments thereof being shown withreference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a vaporizer;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the vaporizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the vaporizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a distal end view of the vaporizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a proximal end view of the vaporizer of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the vaporizer of FIG. 1 with theupper portion removed from the lower portion;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a heater block;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a partially assembled heater block;

FIG. 11 is the view of FIG. 6 illustrating air flow through thevaporizer; and

FIG. 12 is a cut-away perspective sectional view of the embodiment ofFIG. 11

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the electronics withinthe vaporizer.

Reference symbols are used in the Figures to indicate certaincomponents, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbolscommon to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects orfeatures shown therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a hand-heldvaporizer 100, and FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are, respectively, views of atop side 106, a left side 202, a distal end 104, and a proximal end 102of the vaporizer.

Vaporizer 100 includes a housing 101 having a mouthpiece 103 with anopening 311 into the vaporizer at proximal end 102, an air inlet 105 atdistal end 104, and a window 107 on top side 106 through which one canview a botanical material placed within the vaporizer, and a push-buttonswitch 109 on a right side 108. Left side 202 includes a power switch201, a power connector 305, indicator lights 307, and a recess 309.

Housing 101 is formed from a rigid material, and may include one or morepieces or layers of metal or plastic. Thus, for example, sides 108, 202,and ends 102, 104 include a case 207 and a removable bottom panel 303,and top side 106 includes an elongated portion 205 and a bezel 203protruding above and surrounding window 107.

Window 107 is preferably a scratch resistant material that istransparent to visible light, and may be, for example and withoutlimitation, a glass, such as a borosilicate glass or a crystal quartz orfused quartz material.

Vaporizer 100 is preferably sized to be hand-held, and may havedimensions of a height, H, of from 20 to 30 mm, such as height H of 25mm, a length, L, of from 110 to 170 mm, such as a length L of 140 mm,and a width, W, of from 40 mm to 60 mm, such as a width of 50 mm.

Indicator lights 307 may include one light, or several different colorlights (such as red, green, and/or blue) to indicate if vaporizer 100 isbeing powered, temperature settings, and/or battery power remaining inthe vaporizer.

In general, a user may open housing 101 utilizing recess 309 and place abotanical material in a bowl (described subsequently) below window 107,grasp case 207, and push push-button switch 109. In certain embodiments,within several seconds of pushing push-button switch 109 a heater(describe subsequently) within vaporizer 100 emits visible light throughwindow 107 and through air inlet 105 to indicate that a propertemperature has been reached and that the user should inhale thoughopening 311 in mouthpiece 103. The action of inhaling causes air to bedrawn in through air inlet 105 where it is first heated in the heaterand then vaporizes the botanical material, the vapors of which areinhaled by the user through the mouthpiece. In addition, power switch201 may include several settings, such as a power off setting, a lowpower setting and a high temperature setting for controlling atemperature of vaporizer 100, and power connector 305 allows forrecharging of an internal battery.

FIG. 6 as a top perspective view of vaporizer 100 illustrating that thevaporizer includes an upper portion 210 and a lower portion 220. Upperportion 210 includes elongated portion 205, bezel 203, and window 107.In addition, elongated portion 205 forms surfaces 611, lip 613, recess615, and includes magnets 621 and a window fixture 631. Window fixture631 further includes include flat surfaces 633 and grooves 635, and isheld onto elongated portion 205 with screws 637, as shown in more detailin FIG. 7.

Lower portion 220 includes case 207, bottom panel 303, mouthpiece 103,air inlet 105, push-button switch 109, power switch 201, power connector305, indicator lights 307, and recess 309. As shown in FIG. 7, air inlet105 is formed from a grill 703 that may be separate from case 207, and awire mesh 705 to prevent contaminants from entering vaporizer 100. Inaddition, lower portion 220 includes a surface 601 and a ledge 603.Surface 601 includes openings into the interior of the housing, andspecifically a first opening 607 and a second opening 605 exposing arecessed bowl 640 having an upper surface 604, which is contiguous withsurface 601 and a bottom mesh 717.

Surface 601 is, or includes, a material that is attracted to magnets621. When upper portion 210 is placed on lower portion 220, as in FIG.1, magnets 621 are attracted to a top 601 such that lip 613 contactsledge 603, surfaces 611 contact surface 601, surfaces 601 and 604contact surface 633, and recess 615 and grooves 635 do not contacteither surface 601 or 604, providing a gap that provides for air flowbetween opening 605 and 607.

A more detailed description of one embodiment of upper portion 210 andlower portion 220 are illustratively shown in FIG. 7, which is asectional view 7-7 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 8, which is a sectional view 8-8of FIG. 3.

Upper portion 210 includes window fixture 631, which is attached toelongated portion 205 with screws 637. Window fixture may also includegaskets or o-rings to provide a gas-tight seal for window 107.

Surface 601 of lower portion 220 is held onto case 207 using screws 701.Grill 703 forming air inlet 105 is attached to case 207, and a wire mesh705 is placed against grill 703 and inside vaporizer 100 to preventcontaminants from entering the vaporizer.

Lower portion 220 also includes a heater section 710, controlelectronics 720, and an energy storage section 730. Heater section 710further includes a heater block 711 including a lower core 702 and uppercore 704 that form having a passageway 713 including a heating element715, and bowl 640 having a mesh 717 bottom, bowl sides 719, opening 605,a temperature sensor, as shown and discussed subsequently.

In one embodiment, heating element 715 is a resistive coil, such asnickel-chromium alloys such as NICHROME™, INCONEL™, or a FeCrAl alloy,such as KANTHAL™, and cores 702 and 704 are transparent to visiblelight, and may constructed, for example, from borosilicate glass,crystal quartz or fused quartz. Thus when power is dissipated withinheating element 715, a glow may be visible through window 107 and/or airinlet 105.

Control electronics 720 includes a circuit board 723 on which aremounted a programmable processor 725, a power controller 727, and otherdigital and/or analogue circuitry for controlling and powering vaporizer100, such as power switch 201, power connector 305, and indicator lights307. In addition, other switches, buttons, and sensors, such astemperature sensors, may be dispersed throughout vaporizer 100 and maybe wired into control electronics 720. Energy storage section 730includes a battery frame 733 attached to case 207 and battery 731.

In one embodiment, battery 731 is a 7.4 V, 800 mAh with a discharge rateof 7 C.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of heater block 711, which includes a bottomheat transfer mat 910, a lower core 920, a middle heat transfer mat 930,power and control components 940, an upper core 950, and a top heattransfer mat 960. Lower core 920 and upper core 950 may be, for exampleand without limitation, lower core 702 and upper core 704, respectively.

Lower mat 910 includes an opening 911 and a slot 913. Lower core 920includes an opening 921 that is positioned above slot 913, a groove 922,a heating element support 923, a circular recess 934 with a central meshsupport 925, a temperature sensor receptacle 927, and element groundreceptacle 926 and a heating element power receptacle 928. Middle heattransfer mat 930 includes an outer portion 931 and an inner portion 935that supports mesh 717.

Power and control components 940 include heating element 715 attached toa compression fitting 945 connected to a ground wire 947, and to acompression fitting 943 connected to a power lead 949, and a temperaturesensor 942. Upper core 950 includes opening 605 and bowl sides 719. Topheat transfer mat 960 includes an opening 961

Mats 910, 930, and 950 are preferably formed from a high-temperaturefood-safe silicone rubber. Lower core 920 and upper core 950 arepreferable formed from borosilicate glass or quartz crystal. Mesh 717 ispreferably formed from stainless steel. Temperatures sensor 942 ispreferably a glass-coated thermistor, such as a model G100K4000C1manufactured by Measurement Specialties Inc., of Hampton, Va.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a partially assembled heater block 711.As shown in FIG. 10, upper core 950 also includes a groove 1001, aheating element support 1003, a heating element power receptacle 1005, aheating element ground receptacle 1003, and a temperature sensorreceptacle 1009. Heating element 715 is placed with grooves 922 and1001, and is supported midway by heating element supports 923 and 1003,compression fitting 945 is sandwiched between receptacles 926 and 1007,and compression fitting 943 sandwiched between receptacles 928 and 1005.When assembled, passageway 713 is formed by mated grooves 922 and 1001.In addition, temperature sensor 942 is sandwiched between temperaturesensor receptacles 927 and 1009 such that the temperature of a gas maybe sensed near mesh 717.

The operation of vaporizer 100 will now be discussed with reference toFIG. 11, which is the view of FIG. 6 illustrating air flow through thevaporizer, FIG. 12, which is a cut-away perspective sectional view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 13, which is a schematic view of oneembodiment of the electronics within the vaporizer.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the placement of botanical materials M withinbowl 640, and the flow of air and vapors through vaporizer 100.Specifically, FIG. 11 shows upper portion 210 removed from lower portion220. This configuration provides access to bowl 640 for cleaning andplacing fresh a fresh botanical material M and to clean otherwiseinternal surfaces 601 and 611, recess 615 and window fixture 631.

When upper portion 210 and lower portion 220 are assembled, as in FIG.1, recesses 615 and 635 form an air passage between bowl 640 and opening607. Specifically, FIG. 11 illustrates portions of surfaces 601 and 604which contact surfaces 611 and 633 (shown as 601 a), restriction orprohibiting air flow, while other portions of surfaces 601 and 604 donot contact recesses 615 or 635 (shown as surface 601 b) and thusprovide an air flow passageway. Thus, as illustrated with arrows, airflow is shown an entering air inlet 105, moving up through bowl 640 andopening 605, between upper portion 210 and lower portion 220 alongsurfaces 601 b, down through opening 607, and then through opening 501.

FIG. 12 illustrates the flow of air from air inlet 105 though bowl 640.Air is drawn though opening 911, along slot 913, up through opening 921,through passageway 713, where the air is heated by contact with heatingelement 715, up through mesh 717 into bowl 640, along surface 601 toopening 607 and through opening 311 of mouthpiece 103.

FIG. 13 is a schematic 1300 illustrating control electronics 720 ofvaporizer 100. Thus, for example and without limitation, schematic 1300shows connections between power switch 201, push-button switch 109,indicator lights 307, battery 731, programmable processor 725, powercontroller 727, temperature sensor 942, and heating element 715.

In addition to providing temperature control for the process ofvaporizing a botanical material, control electronics 720 may alsoprevents the vaporizer body and internal components from overheating andcausing damage to the battery, computer, or other internal components.

Processor 725 is powered from battery 731 and is programmed to acceptinput from power switch 201, push-button switch 109 and temperaturesensor 942, provide power to one or more indicator lights 307, andprovide a signal to power controller 727. Power controller 727 acceptscommand signals from processor 725 to provide power from battery 731 toheating element 715.

Power switch 201 may have 2 or more setting, such as an “off” setting,and an “on” setting, or an “off” setting, a “low temperature” settingand a “high temperature” setting. With power switch 201 in the “off”setting, all electronics in vaporizer 100 are powered off. With powerswitch 201 in an “on,” “low temperature” or “high temperature” setting,processor 725 has a corresponding stored on temperature (TON), lowtemperature (TL) or high temperature (TH) which are target temperaturesfor controlling a temperature measured by temperature sensor 942. Asdescribed above, temperature sensor 942 measures the air temperaturejust before the heated air flows through bowl 640.

Indictor lights 307 may include lights that are programmed to provide anindication of the operation of vaporizer 100. Thus, for example andwithout limitation, indicator lights 307 may include a dim green lightthat is powered to indicate that vaporizer 100 is powered on in a lowtemperature setting, a bright green light that is powered to indicatethat the vaporizer is powered in a high temperature setting, blinkingblue light to indicate that the vaporizer is charging, a red light toindicate that battery power is low, and a solid red light to indicatethe device is overheated and has been automatically shut down.

In addition, with power switch 201 in an “on,” “low temperature” or“high temperature” setting, and with push-button switch 109 pressed,processor 725 provides signals to power controller 727 to provideelectric power from battery 731 to heating element 715. In certainembodiments, processor 725 uses a control algorithm, such as a PIDcontrol algorithm, to power heating element 715 such that thetemperature, T, measured by temperature sensor 942 is maintained at thetemperature indicated by power switch 201.

The target temperature of temperature sensor 942 is selected toeffectively drive off volatiles from the botanical material. While notmeant to limit the use of the present invention, the Table I containseffective vaporization temperatures of some botanical material

TABLE I Vaporization Temperature of Common Botanical Materials NameScientific Name Plant Part Vaporization Temp. LOW TEMPERATURE: 100° C.150° C. Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus Leaves 130° C. Clove: SyzygiumAromaticum Dried Flower 123° C. to 150° C. Buds Lavender Lavendulaangustifolia Leaves 100° C. to 130° C. Lemon balm Melissa officinalisLeaves 142° C. Sage: Salvia Officinalis Leaves 125° C. to 150° C. Thyme:Thymus Vulgaris Herb 100° C. to 150° C. Tobacco: Nicotiana Tabacum Leaf125° C. to 150° C. MEDIUM TEMPERATURE: 150° C.-175° C. Hops Humuluslupulus Cone 154° C. Ginkgo: Ginkgo Biloba Leaves, 125° C. to 175° C.Seeds HIGH TEMPERATURE: 175° C.-200° C. Camomile Matriarca chamomillaFlowers 190° C. Sage Salvia officinalis Leaves 190° C. Thyme Thymusvulgaris Herb 190° C. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera Gelatinous 175 C. to 200 C.From Leaves 175 C. to 200 C. Garlic: 175 C. to 200 C. Ginger 175 C. to200 C. Ginseng: 175 C. to 200 C. Licorice: 175 C. to 200 C.

In general, the target temperature as measured by temperature sensor 942is in the range of from 145° C. to 205° C., and may be, for example andwithout limitation, be approximately 145° C., 150° C., 155° C., 160° C.,165° C., 170° C., 175° C., 180° C., 185° C., 195° C., 200° C. or 205° C.For multiple temperature settings, such as a “low temperature” and “hightemperatures,” the low temperature setting maybe suitable for vaporizinglow temperature volatiles such as tobacco and have a temperature in therange of from 150° C. to 165° C., with a value, for example of 150° C.,155° C., 160° C., or 165° C. The high temperature setting maybe suitablefor vaporizing higher temperature volatiles, such as ginseng, and have atemperature of 190° C. to 205° C., with a value, for example of 190° C.,195° C., 200° C., or 205° C.

Examples of the Use of the Vaporizer

The following are examples of the user of vaporizer 100. With referenceto FIGS. 1 and 3, with power switch 201 in an “off position,” a usergrasps lower portion 220 in one hand and places their thumb in recess309 to remove upper portion 210. With reference to FIG. 6, a user maythen clean the various internal surfaces and bowl 640, and place a freshsample of a botanical material in the bowl. Upper portion 210 may thenbe securely placed on top of lower portion 220.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a user may, at any time, look through window107 to verify the presence of a botanical material.

Next, the user switches power switch 201 to an appropriate non “off”setting (such as “on,” “low temperature,” or “high temperature”).

Next, the user presses push-button switch 109. Within a few seconds,control electronics 720 has provided sufficient power to raise the airnear temperature sensor 942 to the target temperature, as stored withinprocessor 725. The glow from heating element 715 may be seen by the userthrough window 107 and/or through air inlet 105. For certain botanicalmaterials the extracted vapor may also be viewed through window 107.

With the visible indication of a proper temperature, the user may theninhale through mouthpiece 103. Air is then drawn into air inlet 105,through passageway 713, through the botanical material in bowl 640,between grooves 635 and surface 601, along surface 601 into opening 607,and then through opening 311 to the user's mouth.

The majority of power provided to heating element 715 heats air withinpassageway 713, and thus the botanical material within bowl 640 isvaporized convectively as the hot air flows through the botanicalmaterial.

The surfaces which contact the heated air as it flows between surface601 and upper portion 210 will act as a “heat sink,” causing the gasesto cool from high temperature of heating element 715 to approximatelyroom temperature. After inhaling, the user then releases push-buttonswitch 109, which reduces the power though heating element 715.

It will be understood that the apparatus described herein includes, butis not limited to, certain digital and analog components. It will beunderstood that the invention is not limited to any particularimplementation, programming technique, or combination of analog ordigital components, and that the invention may be implemented using anyappropriate devices or techniques for implementing the functionalitydescribed herein.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughoutthis specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, inone or more embodiments.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description ofexemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of theinvention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure,or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosureand aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventiveaspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claimsfollowing the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporatedinto this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment of this invention.

Thus, while there has been described what is believed to be thepreferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art willrecognize that other and further modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intendedto claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope ofthe invention.

1. A vaporizer to provide a user with a vapor from a botanical material,said vaporizer comprising: a housing; a heater substantially within saidhousing including an electrical energy storage device, a user-operableswitch, a heating element, and an electrical circuit including saidelectrical energy storage device, said user-operable switch, and saidheating element, where said electrical circuit is adapted to provideenergy from the electrical energy storage device to said heating elementwhen said user-operable switch is actuated; and a passageway with saidhousing, said passageway including an air inlet, a heater section toprovide thermal contact with air within said heater and said heatingelement, a receptacle for containing a botanical material, and an airoutlet, such that the user may actuate said user-operable switch andinhale through said outlet to draw air external to said vaporizer tosequentially, heat air in contact with said heating element to a heatedair temperature, at least partially vaporize the botanical material withthe heated air, then provide at least a portion of the vaporizedbotanical material through said outlet to the user.
 2. The vaporizer ofclaim 1, where said heater further includes a sensor to provide anindication of the temperature within the vaporizer, where saidelectrical circuit further includes said sensor, and where saidelectrical circuit is adapted to provide energy from said electricalenergy storage device to said heating element according to saidindication of the temperature within the vaporizer.
 3. The vaporizer ofclaim 2, where said electrical circuit is adapted to limit the maximumtemperature as determined by said sensor.
 4. The vaporizer of claim 1,where said heating element is disposed about an edge of said receptacle.5. The vaporizer of claim 1, where at least a portion of the heatersection is transparent to at least a portion of visible light, such thata portion of the glow of the heating element is transmitted through saidheater section.
 6. The vaporizer of claim 1, where the glow of theheating element is visible through said housing.
 7. The vaporizer ofclaim 6, where said housing includes a window disposed adjacent to saidreceptacle, and where the glow of the heating element is visible throughsaid window.
 8. The vaporizer of claim 6, where the glow of the heatingelement is visible through said air inlet.
 9. The vaporizer of claim 2,where said heater further includes a user-operable power level switch,where said electrical circuit further includes said user-operable powerlevel switch, and where said electrical circuit is adapted to provideenergy from said electrical energy storage device to said heatingelement according to said indication of the temperature within thevaporizer and a setting of said user-operable power level switch. 10.The vaporizer of claim 9, where said electrical circuit is adapted tolimit the maximum temperature as determined by said sensor and saiduser-operable power level switch.
 11. A method of providing a vapor of abotanical material using a vaporizer, said method comprising: manuallyactuating the vaporizer, where said where said vaporizer includes storedelectric energy, a receptacle for containing the botanical material, anda flow passageway extending from an inlet, through a manually actuatibleheater to accept the stored electric energy and heat air, through thereceptacle, to an outlet; and inhaling through the outlet, such that airis drawn external to the vaporizer into the passageway and sequentially,has the air temperature increased in the heater, heats and extract avapor from the botanical material, and provides the vapor to the user.12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: manually selecting aheater temperature setting.
 13. A vaporizer to provide a user with avapor from a botanical material, said vaporizer comprising: a heatingelement, and a passageway including an air inlet; a heater section toprovide thermal contact with air within said heater and said heatingelement; a receptacle for containing a botanical material; a window totransmit thermal radiation from the heater section to the user, and anair outlet, such that the user has a visual cue that inhaled air may beheated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the botanical material.14. The vaporizer of claim 13, where said vaporizer further includes anelectrical energy storage device, a user-operable switch, a heatingelement, and an electrical circuit including said electrical energystorage device, said user-operable switch, and said heating element,where said heater further includes a sensor to provide an indication ofthe temperature within the vaporizer, where said electrical circuitfurther includes said sensor, and where said electrical circuit isadapted to provide energy from said electrical energy storage device tosaid heating element according to said indication of the temperaturewithin the vaporizer.
 15. The vaporizer of claim 14, where saidelectrical circuit is adapted to limit the maximum temperature asdetermined by said sensor.
 16. The vaporizer of claim 13, where saidheating element is disposed about an edge of said receptacle.
 17. Thevaporizer of claim 13, where at least a portion of the heater section istransparent to at least a portion of visible light, such that a portionof the glow of the heating element is transmitted through said heatersection.
 18. The vaporizer of claim 13, where the glow of the heatingelement is visible to a user of the vaporizer.
 19. The vaporizer ofclaim 18, where said vaporizer includes a window disposed adjacent tosaid receptacle, and where the glow of the heating element is visiblethrough said window.
 20. The vaporizer of claim 19, where the glow ofthe heating element is visible through said air inlet.
 21. The vaporizerof claim 14, where said heater further includes a user-operable powerlevel switch, where said electrical circuit further includes saiduser-operable power level switch, and where said electrical circuit isadapted to provide energy from said electrical energy storage device tosaid heating element according to said indication of the temperaturewithin the vaporizer and a setting of said user-operable power levelswitch.
 22. A method of providing a vapor of a botanical material usinga vaporizer, said method comprising: manually actuating the vaporizer,where said vaporizer includes a receptacle for containing the botanicalmaterial, and a flow passageway extending from an inlet, through aheater to heat air, through the receptacle, to an outlet, and a windowto allow a user to view thermal radiation from said heater; and when auser perceives a glow from the heater through the window, inhalingthrough the outlet, such that the user has a visual cue that inhaled airmay be heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the botanicalmaterial.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: manuallyselecting a heater temperature setting.